Ruellia strepens L.

Limestone Wild Petunia

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Limestone Wild Petunia is a native perennial in the Acanthus family (Acanthaceae). It is found in rich woods and along streams in areas underlain by limestone. It Alabama it is most common in the Black Belt area of central Alabama and the Tennessee Valley of north Alabama. It is a perennial from tough, cord-like roots. Each root mass produces 1 or more up-right stems from 1-3 feet in height. The stems are green in color, slightly angled, and pubescent to nearly glabrous. The stems are occasionally branched in the upper half. Leaves are opposite, petiolate, ovate to elliptic in outline, entire, and pubescent or glabrous. Flowers are produced in the axils of the middle and upper leaves. The flowers are in glomerules of 1-5. The calyx lobes are lanceolate and glandular pubescent. Flowers are funnelform and pinkish purple to blue in color. The corolla has 5 rounded lobes and an undulate margin. Individual flowers last for a single day, and are easily detached. The fruit is a capsule. Limestone Wild Petunia is a larval host plant for Buckeye Butterflies (Junonia coenia). Limestone Wild Petunia is occasionally available from wildflower nurseries. It is the largest members of the genus in Alabama. Limestone Wild Petunia prefers light shade and moist, organic rich soil that is basic or neutral in pH.--A. Diamond

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Native

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